THE parents of Shafilea Ahmed who was suspected to have been the victim of an honour killing appeared in court charged with her murder.

Shafilea Ahmed's decomposing remains were found by the side of the River Kent in Cumbria five months after she disappeared from her home in Great Sankey in 2003.

Today, Cheshire Police charged the 17-year-old's parents with her murder. Dad Iftikhar Ahmed, 51, and mum Farzana, 48, both of Liverpool Road, Warrington, appeared before magistrates in Halton this afternoon.

In a hearing that lasted no more than three minutes, the Ahmeds, stood in the dock with a security guard between them, spoke only to give their names, dates of birth and confirm their address.

Mrs Ahmed, who looked tearful throughout, spoke through an interpretor.

As they were lead away in handcuffs having been remanded in custody, Mr Ahmed gave a thumbs up to family sat in the public gallery.

The defendants will next appear at Manchester Crown Court on Friday for a bail application via the court video-link.